Sometimes called the "eighth wonder of the world," Ngorongoro Crater is a must-see on Tanzania's safari circuit.

On a recent press trip to Tanzania, I had the opportunity to visit the crater — actually a massive caldera, formed nearly three million years ago following a volcanic collapse — and stayed at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, considered to be the most luxurious property inside the conservation area.

It's truly a unique place. The architecture was like nothing I'd ever seen before; adobe-colored huts and buildings inspired by the mud-and-stick manyatta homes of the Maasai, with opulent interiors and huge arrangements of roses on almost every surface. It's "Maasai meets Versailles," as I heard one person describe it.

And the views are unbeatable. The Lodge, an andBeyond property, is one of just a handful of hotels within the confines of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and is literally perched on the edge of the crater. I awoke to a panorama of the 100-square-mile abyss, still shrouded in the morning fog.

Even though I spent just one night at the Lodge, I got the sense that the staff was incredibly friendly and focused on the guest experience. The hotel prides itself on creating special "moments" — a candlelit outdoor dinner, a surprise visit from Maasai dancers — for each guest. And days after I left, I found a sweet note from Beaty, the assistant manager, in my suitcase, saying she hoped I'd enjoyed my brief visit.

Stays at the Lodge, which has 30 suites divided into three separate camps, are pricey — rates are $1,500 per person, per night in the high season, and about half that in the low season. But that figure includes all meals and drinks, and twice-daily game drives into the crater with one of andBeyond's trained rangers.

After an afternoon game drive through Ngorongoro Crater, we finally pulled up to the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge at dusk.

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Several staff members were awaiting our arrival with champagne and hot towels. It was a welcome sight after a hot and dusty day in the crater, and one of the "moments" andBeyond seeks to create at the lodge.

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The architecture of the Lodge is like nothing I had ever seen before. Built in 1997, the structures were inspired by the mud-and-stick manyatta homes of the Maasai, who are native to the area.

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Some of the buildings are even constructed on stilts for an improved view.

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The Lodge has 30 rooms, divided into three separate camps: North, South, and Tree. Each camp has its own lodge with a dining room and lounge. I stayed in South Camp, whose lodge is pictured here.

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One neat thing about the hotel: there are roses everywhere, from the main lodge to the guest rooms. I even found rose petals sprinkled around the freestanding bathtub in my suite.

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The sitting room in the South Camp lodge was opulent. There were carved wooden panels. brocade sofas, and antique nick-nacks all around.

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The dining room was similarly opulent. There's no set dinner time; guests can come and go as they please.